Analysis of Thoracic Trauma Patients who were Treated in the Thoracic Surgery Clinic

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the etiology, traumatic pathology and treatment of thoracic trauma patients who were treated in thoracic surgery clinic. Methods: Patients with thoracic trauma admitted to the thoracic surgery clinic between September 2017 and September 2019 were evaluated retrospectively in terms of age, gender, types of trauma, thoracic and extrathoracic injuries, treatments and hospitalization time. Results: The mean age of 119 patients (92 males and 27 females) was 43.65 years. Eighteen (15.1%) patients were presented with penetrating trauma and 101 (84.9%) patients with blunt thoracic trauma. The most common pathologies in blunt traumas were rib fracture and contusion and in penetrating traumas were pneumothorax and hemothorax. Medical treatment was usually sufficient for patients with blunt thoracic trauma. The most common surgical method in penetrating injuries were tube thoracostomy. Conclusion: Thoracic traumas must be treated quickly and effectively due to their high mortality rates.

Keywords

• blunt injury
• chest trauma
• penetrating injury; thoracotomy.